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Old 03-28-2009, 06:12 PM
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DocDirk DocDirk is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Merced, Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: West Coast-Ford Performance Solutions 533 BB
Posts: 390
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Question Horsepower = Heat?

Well over the winter I found that I got decent cooling even at idle on my 533 BB Ford powered Cobra. It has a 4 core 19 x 28" radiator with a 16" puller fan behind a shroud. Now that the temps are in the high 70's I'm running fine with the ram air effect at over 40mph but in stop and go I have to pull over because it's shortly at 225. I realize this type of question has been asked in one form or another on the forum already and I've read all the "overheating" and "coolant/cooling" threads here on the forum and have everything pretty well to spec.

My question is, can I consider a Flexalite twin 13" fan behind its own shroud with a 2760 to 4600 cfm rating a likely solution to this problem if all other parameters are in sync? (It fits my radiator to a T size wise). I bet mine pulls about 1600-1900 cfm at best. I have a heavy duty high output alternator so I'm thinking the amperage draw isn't likely to be a problem. I'll need to rewire a bit heavier gauge I suppose, but I wonder if anyone else has tried one of these behind a thick radiator on a hot engine. The Flexalite website has a disclaimer that states "Flexalite does not recommend the use of electric fans with four core radiators." I called and spoke to them and they say that a radiator that thick is tough for any fan to pull well through... I've read of some folks switching to a thinner 2 or 3 core radiator with good results.... hate to spend $450 and the labor to yank and install if I'm on the wrong track here. AND it gets over 90 most days in the summer here in my part of Krazyfornica

Thanks for any input!

Dirk
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